Current Speaking Topic: Jan 2015

A current speaking topic this month, reported by a student, is the topic of happiness. It can be quite a challenging topic to talk about. This topic has been appearing in speaking part 1 from time to time over a period of a few years. Here are some questions and vocabulary so you can prepare for this topic:

What makes you happy?

Would you say you were a happy person?

Does the weather ever effect your mood?

What kinds of things do you do to make yourself happy?

In what part of the day are you happiest?

Were you happier when you were a child?

What activities made you happy when you were a child?

Is there anything about your life that you’re not happy with?

Do you think happiness is important?

Why do you think someone are unhappy?

Here’s a sample answer for one of the questions

Question: Would you say you were a happy person?

Answer: Yes, I would, on the whole. I’m pretty cheerful most of the day and the only time I’m not is when I’m really tired at the end of the day, particularly if it’s been busy at work, which I think it understandable. I generally don’t let things get me down so I definitely think I’m quite positive and happy.

Vocabulary

pretty cheerful = quite happy

don’t let things get me down = I don’t allow incidents or situations to make me unhappy

positive = optimistic (the opposite is pessimistic)

downhearted = to have low spirits

I’m not often in the dumps = I’m not often depressed

carefree = easygoing / doesn’t worry about things

cheerful – happy

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Be chatty and friendly. This is an informal speaking test. Each question is a chance to chat and show your English. There will be 4 ID checking questions at the start, then the recording device will be turned one and your test will start. Part 1 will ask simple questions about yourself or your country – answer directly and add more. Always keep chatting until the examiner stops you. The examiner will decide when to ask a new question. Don’t worry if the examiner doesn’t smile – just be happy and friendly. You have 14 mins to show the level of your English. Good luck!

Hi Liz! I am navii. I want to say it will be realy helpful for me if you put sample answer of a cue card that is troubling me. It’s describe situation when you had to use your imagination. What things or ideas will be useful? Please help!

I won’t write a full answer but here are some ideas of what you can talk about:
a time when you were late and you used your imagination to come up with an excuse
a time when you had to create a story at school or work
a time when you had to come up with ideas for a project

today 19th august at 2:00pm i have given my speaking test the are
1- you study or work
2- where u work
3- why you have choose that profession
4- do u like caps or hats?
5- as a child u wore cap or hat?
6- in your country hats and caps are occasionally wore?
7-cue card about mistake
8- all questions on mistake

Hi,
I just finished my speaking test recently and the questions asked to me were
warm up questions
-Name.
-Describe your hometown.
-Talk about your favourite photograph.
Task card questions
-Talk about a favourite film you have watched in a cinema or at home.
-Which was the movie?
-Describe the movie.
-Which was the most memorable part of the movie you liked?
Discussion topics
-What are the types of movies?
-What are the differences in the olden time movies and now?
-Do you think people spend unnecessarily on movies nowadays?
-Do you think a lot of people follow celebrities nowadays and why?

In the writing test in Task 1, i was given a line graph and asked to compare the birthrate and death rate from the year 1996 to 2050 and Task 2 the question was, some people think that children playing continuous computer games has positive effects while others say it is bad for children. Discuss, what is your opinion.

Thanks a lot Liz.. your classes were really very helpful and even the tips which you gave were very useful, it made learning a very interesting experience. I’am awaiting my results hoping for the best.

my exam was on 23 jan 2016 and my writing topic was (would school should encourage children about healthy food or parents should make make their effort. discuss both views? )
my reading topic was on marine life, smoke chimney and a topic on pollution.

Thank you for all the useful lessons, practice tests and tips. I have been following your page over a month for my IELTS preparation.
I am a physiotherapist, and for my registration, I need 7 band score in each module of academic IELTS. In my previous attempt, I scored 7L, 6.5 W, 6.5 S and 6.0 R. This time, I have practiced a lot with strategies and shortcuts to solve answers efficiently. Yesterday, I gave my speaking test and I am worried about the cue card question. In my last attempt also, I faced the same problem as, while initiating the topic I spoke very fast and so was left with nothing to talk about at the end so I kept talking about the same thing in other ways which I analyzed as quite a repetitive and boring. I gave answers to all the other questions very confidently and I hope I will get the required score. I have my LRW test tomorrow please give me some advice.

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Hi, my name is Elizabeth (Liz). I am your IELTS teacher and the author of this website. My aim is to help you understand IELTS and achieve a high score. I am an experienced teacher and completed my IELTS examiner training in 2008.